Release Date: September 22nd, 2017
Starring:Emma Stone, Steve Carell, Elisabeth Shue, Sarah Silverman, Bill Pullman, Alan Cumming, Chris Parnell, Eric Christian Olsen
Director(s): Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Little Miss Sunshine, Ruby Sparks)
Pre-Trailer Thoughts: Steve Carell flirted with an Oscar a few years ago in the biopic Foxcatcher. Here, he will once again be shooting for an Academy Award while portraying a real person as he takes on the role of tennis star Bobby Riggs. Joining him is Emma Stone as Billie Jean King in what could be her chance to repeat as Best Actress winner. – JTM
Rate the Trailer: 3 out of 5. With the duo who directed Best Picture nominee Little Miss Sunshine at the helm, a fact I wasn’t aware of before this trailer, this film has a surprising amount of Oscar pedigree going into it. The vibe of the trailer, complete with Elton John’s “Love Lies Bleeding” playing in the background, does a great job of establishing the early 70s the movie takes place in. Carell is doing a pretty comedic take on Riggs, but its a role that plays to his strengths. While Carell handles the comedic tone of the movie, Stone looks to be doing the dramatic heavy lifting. With her side of the plot focusing on feminism of the era as well as her sexuality, Stone’s dramatic chops will be on full display here. – JTM
Theater, Rent, No Thanks, Undecided? Rent. Not exactly enough to draw me into the theater, but if this winds up picking up steam around awards season I’ll try and check it out, if only for the performances of Carell and Stone. – JTM
